Almond Ranch, near Mount Wanda in Martinez, will make critical connections for both the Bay Area Ridge Trail and the Carquinez Strait Scenic Loop Trail. John Muir Land Trust, working to raise $4 million for the purchase, is more than halfway toward one of its goals -- raising $100,000 by Dec. 31 -- to get a 100 percent matching donation.

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Adam Weidenbach/John Muir Land Trust

John Muir Land Trust has announced an effort to raise $4 million to save Almond Ranch, a large open space property in the Martinez hills, from development. The lush, 281-acre open space alongside Franklin Canyon Road and next to Mount Wanda is being used as a cattle ranch, and the Muir Land Trust reportedly wants to eventually open it for "hikers, dog walkers, cyclists, bird watchers, equestrians and nature lovers of all ages."

Adam Weidenbach/John Muir Land Trust

Thanks to readers, John Muir Land Trust is more than halfway toward the goal of raising $100,000 that will be matched 100 percent. The drive has two more weeks to go.

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DEAR JOAN: We have been touched by the many heartfelt letters we’ve received from your readers in support of our campaign to acquire Almond Ranch, a vital 281-acre addition to the wildlife corridor along Franklin Ridge in Martinez and a key connector for the visionary Bay Area Ridge Trail. Here are just a few:

“I was moved by the articles that I read about supporting the acquisition of the Almond Ranch. It’s so important to expand and link the corridors for wildlife. Thank you for what you do.”

“Five generations of my family grew up in Martinez. The hills will always be dear to my heart.”

“Hope you get the Almond Ranch. Read about you in Joan Morris column. Am 90 years old so I don’t think it will be for me, but my descendants will be using it (I’m sure) plus I love all animals. They desperately need a safe place.”

“I live on a limited income and read the article about the Almond Ranch in Mercury News (by Joan Morris) and agree it is important to preserve this open land. The wildlife keep the ecosystem in balance, we must provide a place for them to live.”

“I’m sending these few dollars to help with your goal. Our wild animals need their own space and there’s not too much left for them. Hope this helps!”

“Completing the Ridge Trail is getting close. Good work!”

This special place is loved by residents, and an important haven for wildlife. These include rare and special-status species such as the Alameda whipsnake and the California red-legged frog. Skies are patrolled by golden eagles and hawks. American badgers, gray foxes and other mammals balance the ecosystem.

Thanks to the generosity of many, we’re more than halfway to the $100,000 goal by end of December that will trigger a 100 percent match grant from an anonymous donor. In total, that puts us halfway to the $4 million needed to complete the acquisition by the end of 2019.

From all of us at John Muir Land Trust, thank you and happy holidays!

Linus Eukel, JMLT executive director

DEAR LINUS: Thank you so much for the update, and a big thank you, readers, for your generosity.

We still have about two weeks to put John Muir Land Trust’s drive over the top and get that very important matching gift. If you can spare a few dollars, the trust sure would appreciate it and so will future generations of humans and wildlife.

You can donate online at the John Muir Land Trust’s website, jmlt.org, or mail contributions, marked for Almond Ranch, to the trust at P.O. Box 31, Martinez, CA 94553.

DEAR JOAN: When we had an invasion of snails and slugs, we had a friend bring two of her ducks over for the day and the ducks enjoyed a big meal.

DEAR JOAN: About snail and slug control, over the last 10 years or so I have been without any apparent snail and slug population. This is because of a fairly large population of Western fence lizards and skinks, which eat all sorts of garden pests.

Joan Morris is the pets & wildlife columnist for the Bay Area News Group. She also writes about gardening and is the founder of Our Garden, a demonstration garden in Walnut Creek. Morris started her career in 1978 as a reporter for a small New Mexico newspaper. She has lived in the Bay Area since 1988.